Gone But Not Forgotten!

Football mourns two much-loved characters.

- Sam Elliott

NON-LEAGUE football tragically lost two iconic figures this week as clubs remember their great ambassadors who did so much for them.

On Sunday, Ebbsfleet United’s 2008 FA Trophy winning captain Paul McCarthy collapsed and died at his family home following an unexpected heart attack. He was just 45.

Then just two days later, Scarborough Athletic announced the sudden death of their popular chairman David Holland after he fell critically ill on Tuesday morning.

Tributes have been paid to both with an emotional Liam Daish describing his former captain and assistant manager McCarthy as an inspiration to everyone and a true friend.

In a poignant appreciation of the former Brighton, Wycombe and Hornchurch defender, Daish says he will struggle to ever accept how someone so fit could lose his life in such a way.

“I was in the car and I had missed two calls,” recalled the legendary Fleet manager. “I stopped and saw one of them was from the former secretary at Ebbsfleet.

“We don’t talk too much, but we have an understanding that he keeps me up to speed on things at the club when he can, and I’ve got to say lately whenever we have spoken it’s never been great news.